Legal Definitions - transgression

Transgression is an old-fashioned word that means the same thing as misdemeanor. A misdemeanor is a crime that is less serious than a felony. It is usually punished with a fine, penalty, forfeiture, or a short time in jail. Some examples of misdemeanors include traffic violations, disorderly conduct, and petty theft.

In some places, there are different levels of misdemeanors. A gross misdemeanor is a more serious misdemeanor, but not quite as serious as a felony. A serious misdemeanor is a type of misdemeanor that has harsher penalties than most other misdemeanors. In some cases, conduct that rises to the level of a serious misdemeanor can be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor.

Overall, misdemeanors are less serious crimes than felonies. Felonies are crimes that are punishable by more than a year in prison. Some examples of felonies include murder, robbery, and drug trafficking.

For example, if someone gets caught shoplifting a small item from a store, they might be charged with misdemeanor theft. This means they could face a fine or a short time in jail, but not a long prison sentence. This is an example of a transgression or misdemeanor.